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Two of Alpine’s physical therapists headed to Phoenix last month, not to work on their tans but to hone in their manual therapy skills for mobilizing and manipulating the spine. Jamie Terry and Samantha Schmidt took a three-day intensive course from the Maitland Australian Physiotherapy Seminars.Techniques were used to assess and improve mobility at different levels of the spine. When a particular spine segment is stiff or painful, it prevents other areas of the spine system to move correctly. Doing so leads to restrictions and limitations in normal activities and movements.By understanding how to properly assess and change the segments that are stiff or painful, therapists with MAPS training have a greater advantage when helping patients get back to fun stuff like skiing, running, and living . . . again faster!A core component of our approach at Alpine is to encourage all of our physical therapists to seek out these types of courses. Our vision is to continually take the manual skills of our therapists to the highest level in a way that synergizes with our approach toward training patients in corrective movement.

​For more information on our leadership in the area of spine care in Missoula, visit the “Spine Clinic” page of our website by clicking here.

Patients with typical neck pain may benefit from a physical therapy program that includes upper neck and upper back manipulation. Potential benefits include less pain, better neck motion, and improved ability to perform daily activities. Although this treatment was very successful for this group of patients with neck pain, it may not be effective or even appropriate for all patients with neck pain.

Your physical therapist will perform a thorough evaluation to help determine if you are a good candidate for this treatment, as part of a program designed to help get rid of the aching in your neck. The benefits in this study were only measured for the first 48 hours after treatment; further research is needed to determine long-term benefits.

Here are the nuts and bolts of the supportive research study that appeared in this month’s Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy (2012;42(1):5-18. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.3894).

In this study, James R. Dunning,DPT, MSc Manip Ther, FAAOMPT and fellow researchers treated 107 patients. About half of these patients received a manipulation of the neck, on the part closest to the head, and of the upper back. The other patients received manual therapy that mobilized the spine without using manipulation.

After 48 hours, the patients who received the manipulation treatment experienced a 58% decrease in pain and a 50% decrease in disability. By contrast, patients who received the mobilization treatment only had a 13% decrease in pain and actually showed a 13% increase in disability. In addition, the patients who received the manipulation had increased motion and improved control of their neck muscles compared to the patients in the mobilization group.

The researchers concluded that the combination of upper neck and back manipulation was more effective in the first 48 hours of treatment than the mobilization treatment.

Two of our physical therapists at Alpine Physical Therapy have studied extensively with Dr. James R. Dunning. To schedule an appointment and to get your neck feeling better quickly, you are invited to call our office at 406-251-2323.

Get more information on neck pain by visiting the patient resource section of our clinic website by clicking here.

​Patients with typical neck pain may benefit from a physical therapy program that includes upper neck and upper back manipulation. Potential benefits include less pain, better neck motion, and improved ability to perform daily activities. Although this treatment was very successful for this group of patients with neck pain, it may not be effective or even appropriate for all patients with neck pain.

Your physical therapist will perform a thorough evaluation to help determine if you are a good candidate for this treatment, as part of a program designed to help get rid of the aching in your neck. The benefits in this study were only measured for the first 48 hours after treatment; further research is needed to determine long-term benefits.

Here are the nuts and bolts of the supportive research study that appeared in this month’s Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy (2012;42(1):5-18. doi:10.2519/jospt.2012.3894).

In this study, James R. Dunning,DPT, MSc Manip Ther, FAAOMPT and fellow researchers treated 107 patients. About half of these patients received a manipulation of the neck, on the part closest to the head, and of the upper back. The other patients received manual therapy that mobilized the spine without using manipulation.

After 48 hours, the patients who received the manipulation treatment experienced a 58% decrease in pain and a 50% decrease in disability. By contrast, patients who received the mobilization treatment only had a 13% decrease in pain and actually showed a 13% increase in disability. In addition, the patients who received the manipulation had increased motion and improved control of their neck muscles compared to the patients in the mobilization group.

The researchers concluded that the combination of upper neck and back manipulation was more effective in the first 48 hours of treatment than the mobilization treatment.

Two of our physical therapists at Alpine Physical Therapy have studied extensively with Dr. James R. Dunning. To schedule an appointment and to get your neck feeling better quickly, you are invited to call our office at 406-251-2323.​Get more information on neck pain by visiting the patient resource section of our clinic website by clicking here.

Research overwhelmingly shows that by maintaining a healthy body weight and getting regular moderate intensity exercise, you can significantly improve your cholesterol and blood pressure, while also decreasing the incidence of heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

It is often intimidating to begin an exercise program, especially if you view your self as overweight or obese and don’t want to enter a public setting to workout. You might also be afraid of injuring yourself or aggravating an old injury. Or you may simply have no idea where to even begin.

Utilizing the services provided by a Physical Therapist (PT) can be a safe and reliable gateway to making a lifestyle change toward adding regular physical activity to your daily routine. The traditional view of PT is to treat a specific injury or help recover after surgery. The reality is that physical therapists are also available to help minimize knee or back pain, which are common when beginning a new exercise routine. PTs also teach safe body mechanics to minimize joint stress with exercise, and they provide guidance on proper exercise progression to fit your individual needs.​For more information or to get started call our clinics at 251-2323 or 541-2606.

Several of our physical therapists at Alpine Physical Therapy are skilled in the application of Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM). Although the treatment may be somewhat uncomfortable at first, it is highly effective in releasing tissue adhesions and scar tissue that contribute to tendonitis, chronic pain, and sport- or work-related injuries.

The original form of IASTM has its roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Gua Sha, as it is called, involves use of the edge of an object such as a coin, a spoon, or piece of horn or jade to “scrape” along the skin.

Similarly, our use of IASTM involves use of a precision tool to stroke along the involved area. The repeated action of gliding the tool along the sore area helps to improve lymphatic drainage, improve mobility in the soft tissues, and improve blood flow.

The objectives of this form of treatment are as follows:

Break down scar within the tissues

Promote blood flow into the sore area

Establish healing in damaged tissues

Release adhesions within the layers of tissue

Improve lymphatic circulation

Brace Hayden, DPT oversees our use of IASTM at Alpine. Take a moment to view his discussion of this form of treatment. Please take moment to watch a brief video on the topic.

When you spend a lot of money to learn a new method of helping relieve pain . . . and it works . . . you get pretty excited and want to tell the world. That’s all fine and dandy, but talk to me in a year. Is it still all it’s cracked up to be?

My answer to this question was “Heck Yeah.” In fact, the Basic course of Primal Reflex Release Technique (PRRT) which I took in ’05 helped me ten-fold in helping my patients get better, faster.

Great. Talk to me about how it’s working in another year. Better yet. I spent the time and money a year later and went to the Intermediate course. Again, my results soared to even greater levels. So much so that in ’07, I again spent way more money and time to complete the Advanced level of Primal Reflex Release Technique.

As with each of my progressive level courses in PRRT, the results I got in the clinic afterwards were superb.

Thus, I used these ever evolving techniques in the clinic for another four years.

Fast forward to April 2011. That’s when I attended another course taught by the developer of PRRT, John Iams of Poway, California. Only this class was on the level of Star Wars. In fact, it was titled “Beyond Advanced. John made the class available to all the 150 advanced-trained practitioners across the globe. No way was I gonna miss this class.

Why? Because John has taken the last 4 years to continually research and develop his techniques . . . to the point they are thrilling to practice, particularly when you see the results day in and day out as I do with my patients.

People with lots of pain . . . get better. People with complex pain . . . get better. Not all the time, as it’s not a panacea. But it works profoundly well in a host of orthopedic conditions, such as back pain, neck pain, headaches, tendonitis, and joint pain . . . among others.​Take a moment and watch my brief update on all that’s new with PRRT at Alpine Physical Therapy.

For more information on PRRT, visit my clinic web page by clicking here.

Physical therapy is a “helping” profession. That was ever clearer to me today. I’d prepared 5 hours for today’s presentation. You see, it had to be done just right. Why? Because the 30 people from Missoula County Schools attending my seminar help the lives of a special population of people, special needs children.

Lifting stuff is hard work. When you add the dynamics of lifting special needs kids, the risks shoot sky high for back pain at work. That’s why it had to be just right.

Having prepped well, I was excited and ready to go. Nervous? A little, especially because the Montana School Board Association had earlier planned to video tape my 1.5 hour presentation. No. I wasn’t really nervous. I was simply jacked to be able to share the knowledge I’ve gleaned as a PT over 20 years, especially the time I’ve focused on helping employers and workers enjoy greater safety, particularly back safety.

I barely made it on time, thanks to steady falling snow and horribly slow traffic on Reserve today. Yet I got there on time. Participants at first didn’t seem all that excited to “have to” sit through “another” safety program. Yet the information was fresh, and people sensed it. Resultantly, they got into it.

When I got to the point about lifelong fitness, they were equally attentive, especially when I shared efficient and effective ways for them to optimize fitness using new scientific models that incorporate high intensity interval training, along with full-body, functional exercise.

It was a pleasure meeting with this fine group of people, people who work so hard to help others. In doing so, their backs are unquestionably at greater risk. I’m optimistic, however, that some of the things I presented today will aid these caring individuals in reducing their risks of back pain at work.

At Alpine Physical Therapy, we employ twice as many physical therapists than any other free-standig outpatient physical therapy service in Missoula.

Why is that a big deal?

First, in our case, breadth equals depth. Because we have 11 therapists, our team has a wide area of specialties, interests, and expertise. Consider the variety in the list that follows:​

Advanced Orthopedic Manual Therapy

Certified Pilates Instruction

Golf Fitness Instruction

Jaw Pain

Spine Care

Sports Medicine

Women’s Health

Work Injury Management

Second, the shear size of our therapy team allows our patients to choose their therapist based on gender, personality, and specialty area.

Third, people who need to access the services of a physical therapist quickly have a much better likelihood of getting an appointment at Alpine right away.

There’s power in bigger numbers, especially when all our therapists are top-rated. And together we hold a total of 9 national certifications. Stay tuned to learn what these 9 certifications entail.​For a list of other reasons that answer the questions Why Us? Why Alpine?click here.

Research overwhelmingly shows that by maintaining a healthy body weight and getting regular moderate intensity exercise, you can significantly improve your cholesterol and blood pressure, while also decreasing the incidence of heart disease, diabetes and stroke.

It is often intimidating to begin an exercise program, especially if you view your self as overweight or obese and don’t want to enter a public setting to workout. You might also be afraid of injuring yourself or aggravating an old injury. Or you may simply have no idea where to even begin.

Utilizing the services provided by a Physical Therapist (PT) can be a safe and reliable gateway to making a lifestyle change toward adding regular physical activity to your daily routine. The traditional view of PT is to treat a specific injury or help recover after surgery. The reality is that physical therapists are also available to help minimize knee or back pain, which are common when beginning a new exercise routine. PTs also teach safe body mechanics to minimize joint stress with exercise, and they provide guidance on proper exercise progression to fit your individual needs.​For more information or to get started call our clinics at 251-2323 or 541-2606.